'I'm a better boyfriend than husband'- Saif

Saif Ali Khan: "I make a better boyfriend that a husband"

Saif Ali Khan on the man-woman dynamics. Filmfare gets the lowdown

His ladylove Kareena Kapoor has left for Mumbai having wrapped up her portion of work. When I ask him questions about Kareena and his personal life, he fumes, "This interview is not about my relationship with Kareena and I don't want to talk about it. Skip these questions, talk about Agent Vinod, movies, what it is that we are doing here, what's my plan in life. Let's not discuss my personal life, which I am very happy with, thank you." Uh. oh! 😆

I try to lighten the atmosphere by switching to safer topics like him becoming health conscious. Not paying heed to my new question, he continues to sally, "Listen, you are doing the wrong interview' come back and start from the beginning. Let it be about Saif in Morocco, Agent Vinod and what's going on in my life." When in Morocco talk Morocco. The chhote nawab seemed to suggest. Sigh. Point noted.
He fills me in on what made him zero in on this location. The actor had come here a few years ago to attend the Marrakech Film Festival. He was surprised at the respect with which people spoke about his mother Sharmila Tagore and her films, particularly the ones with legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Also, Marrakech's "restaurants, the scenery, the hedonistic opulence, the vast Sahara desert and the looming Atlas Mountains" cast a spell on him.
Says he, "I wanted to make a movie here. So, when Agent Vinod came along, it seemed like the right exotic location to shoot at.Tangiers is an amazing place with a lot of French influence. It's on the hills overlooking the Mediterranean and has some amazing villas. It has an old Parisian charm. The film is a little grungy, a little gritty, at the same time exotic. We wanted a fresh location to explore different climates and countries as the story moves."

His next 'plan of action' is to shoot the film in Amsterdam, Latvia and Pakistan. "We have to figure out how to shoot in Pakistan. I'm sure we'll find a way," he says sensing my scepticism.
He was recently awarded the Padma Shri. Is he getting used to being addressed as 'Padma Shri Saif Ali Khan'? "No, I am not. I am really honoured but I don't think of myself as someone in that league. One would associate this award with a senior person, someone with an immense contribution.
I don't think my contribution to cinema has been immense. There has been a contribution but perhaps not 'Padma Shri' worthy. I don't know."

Perhaps he's glad it was less controversial than his fetching the National Award for Hum Tum. "That was controversial as well, wasn't it?" he recalls. "I don't decide who gets the award. Beyond a point, it's hard to justify. I shouldn't have to explain. I am pretty good at my job. I am a good actor. So, any kind of award associated with my craft I'll accept gracefully, thank you. But the Padma Shri? Should I consider myself a knight for being a Padma Shri awardee? Is that like a knighthood?" 😆he asks.
In a recent interview with Filmfare, Kareena said, "Saif's like old wine. Looking better by the day like George Clooney and Harrison Ford." I repeat this to him. "That's lucky! I'm feeling more in control than before," he smiles at the compliment. I wonder if female attention around him has increased or decreased given his hi-profile relationship. "The attention has definitely decreased in my vicinity," he laughs. "I'm going to have to make do with that for the time being! Having said that I do feel that a person in a relationship is more attractive. But I'm yet to experience that!"
Noticing his easy demeanour, I slip in a more personal query. Is he a better boyfriend than a husband? "Yes, I guess so' for various reasons," he agrees. I push my luck and ask why. "Personal reasons," is the reply I get but thankfully without decibels raised.

Many a celeb has confessed that there's so much of them out there that it becomes necessary to keep a certain part of themselves private. The star who doesn't want to talk about his personal life is only too happy to subscribe to the suggestion. "Yeah of course! That's the whole point. People are interesting for one reason or another. It'll be sad if you are interesting only because of your relationship."
Then on a solemn note adds, "I do understand this being a celebrity. But maybe I should associate more with charities." I suggest that he become the brand ambassador for an anti-smoking campaign. "Yeah, right but I don't want to come across as someone preachy. Though I think it will be good to do something with anti-smoking. Maybe I would do one."

😆

Interview done we are ready to get two more changes of Saif shot after he's got his hair and beard trimmed. In between the photo shoot, he walks up to me and asks, "Was the interview okay? I was a bit distracted." 😆Taken aback I assure him it was fine as I had just heard it on the voice recorder. "Make me hear it. If it's not good we can do it again," he offers confidently.
I felt like reacting exactly in Saif's style to his suggestion with, "Umm... I don't know." Minus the drawl.


Faheem Ruhani